The first part of the year seems to always come down to some kind of sacrifice. First we have our New Year’s resolutions, which never include “spend more time on the internet, watch more television, and eat a lot of chocolate.” I spend the better part of January trying to keep to those resolutions. Of course, many of those fall... Read more
Archive for the ‘Faith’ Category
Sociology 101- Church Attendance
February 7 | Posted by Vinny | Faith Tags: attendance, church, Faith, music, religion, schedule, timeRoman Catholics are the busiest of the faithful. I know that seems a bold observation and a gross generalization, but I know it to be true. How could I know such a thing? I know because I have studied it using the tools I learned in Sociology 101- observation and extrapolation. I’ve spent many years observing the arrival times of people... Read more
Faith Resolutions for 2009
January 10 | Posted by Vinny | Faith Tags: cursing, Faith, language, newyears, prayer, religion, resolutions, thanks, thanksgiving, vulgarityHaving completed my Family Resolutions the other day, I should take a moment to continue my resolutions as a man of faith. Resolution 4- Remember that “Name in Vain” thingy For a man who teaches the youngest of children, you would think I had better control of my mouth. I don’t. I also work across the hall from a first grade teacher... Read more
’tis the season for CAPE Catholics
December 15 | Posted by Vinny | Faith Tags: ashwednesday, CAPE, catholic, catholicism, christmas, easter, palmsundayI was made aware of a phrase a few years back that I hadn’t heard before- the CAPE Catholic. These are the folks who come out at specific times, most notably when we are either having a party or giving something away. CAPE stands for: Christmas- Yeah baby… I mean, yeah Baby! The biggest baby shower ever. Billions of people worldwide... Read more
The Paradox of Advent
November 30 | Posted by Vinny | Faith Tags: advent, blackfriday, Faith, Marriage and Family, walmartAdvent is a temporal paradox. It is the end of the calendar year, but also the beginning of the liturgical year. It is a chance for a fresh start with your faith. It is, in fact, one of the two holiest seasons in our Christian year. It may also be the time where we are weakest in our faith. Consider... Read more
Thanksgiving Blessings
November 23 | Posted by Vinny | Faith Tags: grace, Marriage and Family, meal, prayer, thanksgivingWestern Grace, originally uploaded by kretyen. With Thanksgiving coming up this week, I’m considering what I will say at the table. Not for small talk, but in prayer before the meal. As the guy who works at a church, people assume I must be the most religious in the room at our Thanksgiving feast. I’m not. My wife is far more... Read more
Cafeteria Catholic- Same Sex Marriage
November 15 | Posted by Vinny | Cafeteria Catholic, Faith Tags: CA, california, gay, marriage, olbermann, prop 8, same-sexThe 2008 election was an historic election. No, not for Barack Obama. The residents of the State of California decided that the right for any two people to marry, regardless of their gender, was no longer to be sanctioned. The text of Proposition 8 read, simply, that “(o)nly marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in... Read more
Forgetting to Remember
November 8 | Posted by Vinny | Faith Tags: death, Faith, juliefay, memoryHaving a schedule when you write a blog is important. If you write about current events or today’s news, you can get away with the “hmm… Let’s see what Steve Jobs did today” thing. Faith is different. Faith has a deep and rich history, and a calendar published WAY in advance. That’s why I feel like such a dolt for missing... Read more
Cafeteria Catholics- Abortion
November 2 | Posted by Vinny | Cafeteria Catholic, Faith Tags: abortion, Cafeteria Catholic, daughter, health, marriage, womenAs a Cafeteria Catholic, I don’t agree with all the core precepts of my faith. I guess it means I’m not much of a Catholic, but I am who I am, and I figure some faith is better than none, Believe it or not, I was a teenager once. As a stupid young man, I engaged in a fair amount of... Read more
Cafeteria Catholic- Overview
October 26 | Posted by Vinny | Cafeteria Catholic, Faith Tags: catholic, catholicism, FaithConsidering my history, I hope it’s easy to understand that I might not agree with all the teachings of my faith. Since my mother is divorced, some of those teachings, technically, make me an unwelcome member of the faith. Others would alienate my friends. Heck, I rarely receive communion because I’m suppossed to go to confession to cleanse my soul... Read more
